What’s On In Newcastle This Week? A Day On The Green, Tim Freedman & Bruce Mathiske

This week, A Day On The Green plays host to Hoodoo Gurus, The Angels, Baby Animals, James Reyne and Boom Crash Opera; Whitlams’ frontman, Tim Freedman, returns to Lizotte’s; and guitar virtuoso, Bruce Masthiske, is poised to transfix his Thursday night audience. Don’t be fooled by this week’s distinct music theme, there’s still enough offerings to satisfy everyone.

Tim Freedman’s show will be an evening of grand piano, sweet melody and pointed opinions. Already renowned as a raconteur between songs, this year Tim will link the tunes together with some extended yarns such as ‘How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Hate Triple J’ and “Why Caroline Overington Described My Father As A Jewish Accountant In The Age”.

Tim Freedman is best known as the lead singer/songwriter of The Whitlams, an ARIA Group of the Year, with a string of gold and multi-platinum albums. His songs of charming well-crafted cynicism can sound as if Randy Newman had joined Crowded House.

On the heals of recent sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne, and in the middle of a North American tour with Missy Higgins and Katie Herzig, Butterly Boucher is planning a return to her homeland this November for her first extensive Australian headlining tour.

Tickets $18 on the door

The Owls @ The Great Northern Hotel

The four piece indie/stoner rock locals launch their 2nd EP ‘Swamp Love’ and kick off their upcoming tour this Friday at the ‘Northern.

The Owls have taken the fast-paced elements of alternative rock, thrown in a liberal lashing of progressive southern dustiness and mixed in touches of ethereal dissonance.

Supported by Holly Who, Riley & Donna and Flightless Fowls

Tickets $10 on the door

2 for 1 Comedy @ Civic Playhouse

Newcastle Comedy is proud to announce the show 2 for 1. A night comprising two completely different comedy shows from local acts Matty Band Brendon Knott. The pair, who have been impressing audiences in festivals and clubs around Australia now join forces to bring to the Playhouse both their solo shows in one night of hilarious entertainment.

In what will be a unique experience for the audience their contrasting styles will take you to many opposing edges of the comic bell curve. It’s two comedians, two viewpoints and two shows in one.

ClulowForester is an electronic live performance which is right on the bleeding edge of available technology. This performance is a no holds barred Riskathon, where (like traditional guitar bands) the slightest mistake comes through in the music.

With Surveillance Party’s self made Reactable (first made famous by Bjork), a soldered and extensively modded drum kit, in combination with 100% reactive live graphics spontaneously generated and warped by the music – no two performances can ever look or sound the same.

They return the Cambridge stage this Saturday to mark the release of their much awaited new single ‘Step Into the Light’.

Supported by Captain of the Push and Post Paint

Tickets $ 15.00 on the door

Mojo Juju @ The Lass O’Gowrie

Smooth, shiny & loaded with sin. The kind of music that could make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window. Mojo Juju sings songs that sound just like that night you can’t quite remember, in that bar you swear you weren’t at, with that girl you promise you’ve never met.

Free entry

Chance Waters @ The Great Northern Hotel

Following the release in February of the title single from his soon to be released album, ‘Infinity’; the video for which has received regular screen time on RAGE! and is currently sitting on over 20,000 views on YouTube, Chance releases the new single, ‘Maybe Tomorrow’. Produced by One Above, the track’s up-beat tempo, off-beat rhythm, piano-rock influences and live instrumentation see Chance continue to forge a unique path in Australian hip hop.

Chance has cemented his place as a “burgeoning hip-hop star” – Dom Alessio (Triple J). The single has already been added to Triple J playlist and was the 9th most added track to Australian radio nationally in the closing week of May.

Supported by Smiles Again & Stories For Nothing

Tickets $15.00 on the door

Ruby Rose @ King St Hotel

The glamorous Ruby Rose returns to King St Hotel, in fine form as always.

Take two legends of Australian Rock and Roll who also just happen to be legends of television shows like In Melbourne Tonight and Hey Hey It’s Saturday, put them on stage with a hot band, and you have the recipe for superb, crowd pleasing entertainment.

Back doing what they do best, Frankie and Wilbur will have you dancing and singing along to the hit songs of OL’55, the multi-platinum band that launched them onto Australian show business and into the hearts of Australian audiences.

Sunday, November 11

Miss Porter’s House Open Day

Miss Porter’s House Open Day will feature an exhibition that shows the changing ways in which clothes were made, repaired and recycled in times past. There’ll also be a stall offering Gift bags, covered bags, Christmas napkins, tea towels, fruit cakes, shortbread, coat hangers, Christmas tags and post cards.

The house is located at 434 King Street, Newcastle West (between Steel and Union Streets) and is open from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

Admission: $7 adults, $5 pensioners and children five years and over. Free to National Trust Members and children under five.

In essence, Wow Fest is an exciting annual platform to tread the boards and test out new skills. HRDS students perform along with their workshop group class mates in front of an audience that is usually made up primarily of family and friends. Whether an old or new student, one thing is certain, its sure to be an exciting and thrilling night. And as for our audience, we guarantee there will be something to rouse your imagination.

Wednesday, November 14

Jackson Firebird @ The Great Northern

Rugged, explosive, full-tilt rock n’ roll – Jackson Firebird have it in spades. Hailing from Mildura, the garage rockers’ debut, Cock Rockin’, is a high octane showcase; growling guitars, dirty riffs and super tight beats. Their live show isn’t dissimilar, leaving audiences wild-eyed and breathless. Make no mistake: Jackson Firebird take no prisoners.

Supported by BlackDiamond

Big Band Jazz @ Lizotte’s

Featuring some of Newcastle’s best Jazz musicians performing an exciting blend of modern and contemporary Big Band jazz.

Thursday, November 15

Sizzling Strings @ Lizotte’s

‘Sizzling Strings’ featuring the guitar wizardry of Internationally Acclaimed Virtuoso Guitarist Bruce Mathiske with his unique style of playing bass, rhythm and melody simultaneously has led to world wide acclaim and standing ovations.

Mathiske has been described by The Sydney Morning Herald as “the authentic guitar virtuoso”. The evening will also feature guests including Aria Ward winner Chris Duncan on Scottish fiddle and the legendary George Colla on guitar. With over 100 years experience between them, this extraordinary combination of music maestros, spellbound audiences with their stringed excellence covering many styles of music.

Alex has recently completed a Bachelor of Communication at The University of Newcastle, majoring in media production. His likes include every aspect of film and music. His fears include repetition and monotony. With this being the first time he has written about himself in third person, he has successfully avoided those fears.

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